One question that comes to mind is, how "decorated" do you really want your table, elaborate, simple, medium?

Decorations (the amount of) on a table often will dictate on how you will serve your food, family style, buffet, etc. What do you already own in your home that could work on the table? A big thing for me is to think outside of the box. For example, starting with a collection of ceramic birds would look fablous thru the table scape with the first picture (beleive it or not I have seen some half decent ceramic birds on branches at the dollar stores, these could also make a fun take home gift for each person).

Hmmm, well I always take my color cues from what design is on the plates. Using those colors as a guide you want to be able to involve those colors thru your table scape design. For example, it looks like in the first photo in the plate design it appears that there is a tiny bit of lavender, a blue flower, a darker pinkish flower?, gold/yellow flower, and of course the green in the leaves, and the background of the flower designs is white.

I know you said that you want to keep the centerpiece inexpensive, and I see you mention being on a farm. Do you garden too, the reason I ask, is that a lot of beautiful arrangements can be made from what you have in your garden, for example snipping off a few hosta leaves is really nice in an arrangement, leaves from the bushes you have on your property, if you are growing some kind of produce that is great too, apples-reds, greens, yellow apples, grapes, lettuce heads, veggies, then intersperce some inexpensivee flowers in your plate colors in with them. Then if you could find some pieces of trailing ivy (or buy a good size ivy plant from the garden store and take snips from that), the long ivy pieces would drape nicely over the sides of the bowl without too much height. This is really very hard to explain with photos I know, I hope you get some sort of an idea of what I mean.

In my tablesettings I will often use ceramics, crystal, normal accessories that I use in my home on the dining table, again, keep color and theme in mind.

You can purchase small glass volitive candle holders and intersperse them thru the table or one in front of each guest, again, purchase the volitive candle itself in the color or colors of your table. Do you want to go with name place cards since you have alot of guests(loads of ways to make that happen too)

You could go to Michaels arts and crafts and buy some silk flowers, a few birds nests, a few of the small fake colored birds some greenery and arrange them in the white footed compote.

The most inexpensive thing really, is to look around your home and see what you already own, and use them, use things from your garden. If I was in your home I could probably come up with a fair amount of things, doing this over the internet is very difficult for me to give you alot of direction, not to mention if you don't have anything in your home you want to use, then of course budget is a problem for most folks.

I guess I could go on and on and practically write a thick book on it, but alas I am not a particulary articulate person when it comes to the written word for instructions. I hope this did not come off as a confusing mess for you.

Best of all there are alot of other very talented people here that can add in their ideas too, it is a very giving group. :)

I will say, you DO have great "bones" for all of your tables, you just need to "fru fru" them up a bit (again though, this is MY taste LOLOLOL)

Judith, thanks so much for your response. You have certainly given me a lot to think about!. While I don't really want the tables to be too elaborate or over-the-top, I know they really look naked as they are now.
We live in town but we do also own a farm. Currently in my yard I have sweet potato vine, vinca vine, hostas, boxwood, lamb's ears and various potted annuals. I think I can find some hedge apples on the farm but not sure they are in season. I have lots of votive candles, clear,polished glass marbles and about 50 champagne glasses from daughter's wedding last summer. Maybe I could do something w/ them.
Thanks so much for your input, it is greatly appreciated. If anyone else has any suggestions please let me know.

Welcome Mommacass! Thanks for coming out of "lurkdom" as I can see you are already a great "table-setter" and it is a pleasure to look at the ideas you have so far for your tables. Once you have the centerpieces chosen, they will be terrific! I REALLY like table #2 with the sunflower placemats and napkins (great way to fold the napkins - new to me). If you want to "dress up" your folding chairs, try white/cream pillow cases over the backs. For table #1, I think you are on the right track with a coloured (lavender)tablecloth as then the dishes will stand out more than they do on the white. And table # 3 looks so "fresh" with that colour of green - love it!

I agree with everything Judith has said (she is always great at coming up with suggestions and ideas and conveying them). I looked up images of the "hedge apples" and if they are the green colour I saw in pics, then I think those would be great for table #1 or #3. The only thing I always worry about when I pick my garden items/flowers is if bugs/ants come out once they are on the table!

In my opinion,(and I AM NO EXPERT!) with rectangular tables, I find it is better to have some items "coming out" (i.e. running down the table length a bit) at various lower levels from the "main" centerpiece which would be the items you have placed on the tables already (once full) such as the little ceramic birds Judith suggested or some greenery or candles or a cloth runner/doily/placemats (or all of them). That way, it doesn't just look like you "plopped down" a bowl of something as a centerpiece, it will look more "finished". Since you are only having dessert, I assume you don't need a lot of room for food on the table. Will you need room for coffee/tea cups/saucers?

You can still use the bowls you selected for a fresh flower arrangement if you just put the flowers in a small glass/bowl inside the compote,etc and fill the edges around it with other items or more greenery.

Placecard settings can be as simple as printing names in a fancy script on the computer and adding some clipart to them then cutting out and placing them on the plate or if you have holders that is even better.

Here are some examples of what I mean by having the items come out from the main centerpiece:

Just my suggestions and I am certain YOU can come up with some great ideas on your own judging by what you've done so far. PLEASE post some pics of what you end up with though - would LOVE to see the finished product!

DD

Mommacass, welcome to the forum,so glad you are coming out of lurkdom!

You've done a great job doing three "themes" for your tables. Judith and Dining delight have already given you some great suggestions.

For me, table #3 just begs for a centerpiece of tomatoes, carrots and snap peas--either real of faux. Would go so well with your pretty napkings, and you could use DD example #1 with some cups & saucers with flowers in the same colors to add more pizazz.

Table #2 just needs some greenery and flowers in the same tones as the placemats--and maybe just arrange some snipped greenery with the same flowers down the middle of the table. (You might need to put something under them to protect your tablecloth.)

And table #1 could just be some pretty fruits in the bowl, and a couple small vases of flowers on each side of it in colors that go with your plates. You could even weave pretty ribbons through your compote dish for added color. And even a simple scalloped edge paper coaster under each glass would be cute too.

Whatever you end up doing, I'm sure it will be perfect. Hope your group has a great time. So what's for dessert? ;o)

Luvs

Hi Cass, you have already been given some good advice.
I have Vera napkins also, had them forever!
Since it is just dessert, I am thinking mre along the lines of flowers, greenery etc from your garden. I don't know what part of the US you are from, but you can even get sm pots of flowers at greatly reduced prices...I got geraniums for 25 cents, they just want to get rid of them ...
You can also float the flowers in sm glass bowls....or these little bottles are from Cappucino ...I like the size, great for outdoor tables and free!
Look around, you will find some things to use.
Ribbon could be used also..

Floating the flower in low bowl..

From a garden theme luncheon...little pots of new guinea impatiens...

Using the flowers on your desserts..

You can use ribbon to tie your naps for more color too...tuck in a flower..

Have you browsed this forum for tables that have been posted...you might get some ideas..

Ladies thank you, thank you for your responses. I have read each of them several times already and you have given me great ideas.
Kathleen-your pics w/ the hydrangeas reminded me that I have a hydrangea too! Its blue and would look good w/ the dining room table. Do you think I could just pile some in the compote?
luvs-I luv your idea about using tomatoes w/ the kitchen table, maybe I could mix them in w/ some hedge apple balls (yes, they are bright green).
DD-thanks so much for your suggestions and pics. I really love your pink table. I have a bunch of doilies left over from DD's wedding last summer that I could use under each plate in the dining room (#1). That would look nice on top of the lavender tablecloth. I will need to leave room for cups and saucers for the coffee drinkers.
Thankfully I don't have to worry about any food, I am just hosting the meeting and have to provide table service and other ladies are bringing the food (PEO anyone?).
I don't feel as nervous after all of your help. This is my first time hosting this group and I do want things to look nice. I will take pics of the final arrangements but I'm still open to more suggestions.....

Yes, Cass, you could put a little water in the compote and pile them in! They will last long enough for your meeting...

I've posted these before but maybe they will give you some inspiration.

Jim

I believe this is candy on a stick.

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Jim-your inspiration pics are great. I really like the one of they hydrangeas w/ the hurricane chimney candle. The green mum ball looks very similar to the hedge apples I was talking about.
Thanks again!

Kathleen, those were great examples of using flowers to pull the colors out of the napkins.

Jim, those were great inspirations pics--and I don't think you have posted them here before. Mammacass, did you notice the one with the vegetables? A much simpler version of veggies and flowers sure would be great with that one set of napkins you have. The blue one is gorgeous, reminded me of Judith's recent outdoor one. And I loved the simplicity of the hydrangas on the plate around the votive candle--now if only my hydrangas looked like Ms. Kathleen's! LOL

Mammacass, I'm so glad you asked for ideas--all these pics have been great! Hope you have lots of fun with your group, and come back here and chat with us often.

Luvs

This may help as well - I remembered I still had it bookmarked.
It's Styrofoam brand craft site

Crafts

Jim

Mommacass,
I am about to die to know how your party turned out. Please let us know if you've had it yet and post pics of the results.
Betty

betty-
D-day is this Thursday. I am busy cleaning the house and getting things in good order generally.
Had an eventful weekend. DH was really great and helped me pick hedge apples. I wish I had taken a pic of him standing on the roof of his truck and swinging at them w/ a golf club!! If he had fallen it would have been awful, but I couldn't help laughing while they were raining down on me and the farm cat. She was pouncing on them as they landed. I will probably use them on the dining room table and maybe the kitchen one also.
I also got a few milk glass birds at Big Lots that I plan to use on the dining room table.
Have to go clean another bathroom. I promise to post pics afterwards.
Thanks again!!

Cass, your DH's "round-up" of hedge apples sounds hilarious! How nice though that he was willing to help. Looking forward to hearing the details of your event and hopefully some pics too!

DD

I've started playing around w/ the tablesettings and took pics of the dining room. I think I'm happy w/ it, what do you guys think?

Those are the hedge apple balls that DH helped me find. Luckily they don't have any oder or bugs. I've since learned that they have been used as a natural insect repellent for years!

This morning I picked a bunch of the neighbor's black-eyed susan's to use on the LR table w/ the sunflower placemats and I will probably use a bowl of hedge apples for the kitchen table too.

Hopefully, more pics Friday.

Cass, love the colour of those hedge balls and your white birds are terrific! Do you have anything going in those small scalloped dishes? If not, I would put a ball in there too to bring more of the green along the table. I think the black-eyed Susans should go well with your other table. Looking forward to more pics and hearing how your meeting went!

DD

Oh, I remember those hedge apples, one of my great Aunts used to have a tree and we were always playing with them when we visited her. Love the color of them. They look really pretty in your bowl. They make a great bowl filler and I like how you added the leaves too.

I still think you need some tomatoes, snap peas and carrots, either real or faux to match those pretty napkins on the kitchen table though. Just my humble opinion, you do what works for you, okay? ;o)

Luvs

Yes, I survived. I have been trying to download pics and my internet connection is not cooperating. (OT-does it make a difference in speed when you have several people using the same wireless connection at the same time? DS21 is home from college this week and the internet has been running frustratingly slow since he has been online too.)

Anyhoo, I served 19 ladies and everyone loved the tables. The dining room table didn't change from the last pic I posted. The folding table in the LR had the vase filled w/ black-eyed susan's and then I had 2 small votive candle holders made of black metal and shaped in kind of a "S" curve on each side of the centerpiece. The kitchen table had the milk glass bowl that was shown in the first pic filled w/ hedge apples. (Luvs-real veges would have looked great, but time constraints made me use what I already had. I'll definitely keep it in mind for next time!) I also had votives w/ bright green candles and small milk glass dishes w/ nuts and chocolate. While the tables were all kept pretty simple by some standards, they suited the occasion and I was very pleased. Everyone enjoyed hearing about how we collected the hedge balls!

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and help. I will continue to try and post final pics. (DS21 is only home for 2 weeks this summer!)

Thanks again!
mommacass

Mommacass, I'm so glad it all went well, and I totally understand about time constraints and using what's on hand. I'll bet they were all impressed at how pretty you made everything look. ;o)

Now that you've joined in here, don't be a stranger. We love seeing everyones pretty dishes and collectibles. That keeps us active between holidays. And the holidays will soon be coming again, so maybe you will have decorations and displays to share with us for that too. If nothing else, just join in and chat with us, the more the merrier as they say.

Luvs

Mommacass,
I've never seen or heard of hedge apples before. They make quite a nice statement. And those birds are darling. I've never seen any at the Big Lots around here, but I will be looking for them now! Can't wait to see the rest of your pics. So glad that everything turned out well for you.
Betty

Here are the final pics as promised--Thanks again!

They all look really nice, and your dessert looks yummy too! Luvs

I'm "late to the party", mamacass, but everything looks so good. Pretty colors, cheerful decor, and yummy desserts.
What more could a person want. And definitely loved the tale of your DH golfing for apples. LOL. Wish you had a photo of that to share with us.

hugs, Karen

Mommacass,
Everything turned out beautifully. Each table is so well put together. My favorite one is the pink one,but all 3 are pretty in their own way. I went to Big Lots today to get me some of those pretty white birds,but Boo Hoo....they didn't have any.
Thanks for introducing me to hedge apples. Never seen them or even heard of them before. Learn something new everyday!
Betty

I'm just seeing this but... Nice Job Betty!

Mamacass, I'm late to say it but your tables turned out wonderfully! It is always a pleasure to sit down to a table that has a bit of something extra and all of yours have that. I'm sure your guests appreciated your efforts. Your dessert looks yummy and goes well with the table decor too. Hope you will keep posting any table ideas you have...even if it just "playing" and no guests are invited!

DD